Four police officers were suspended in Pakistan after forcing a man and a woman accused of adultery to strip naked and parade around the city as punishment, prompting outraged witnesses to film the walk of shame.
"They were abusing me, and that made us walk," said the man, Mumtaz Mirbahar, after the incident. "She was pleading with them, 'You have mothers and sisters of your own. Please, let me get dressed.’"
Mirbahar, 52, and the unidentified woman were arrested by police on charges of attempt to commit adultery. A second unidentified woman was arrested with them, although there were conflicting reports about whether she was forced to walk naked to the police station. Officials said the three accused were already naked when they arrived.
They were allegedly part of a prostitution ring that the community had been complaining, Irfan Baloch, a senior local police officer, told the news media. "The main mistake of the arresting police officer was that he ought to have covered them up," Baloch said.
Mirbahar was known in the neighborhood for throwing fuel alcohol dance parties during Ramadan, according to reports, one of the holiest times of the year for Muslims. Alcohol is forbidden by Islam at all times. Mirbahar said he was deeply affected by the public humiliation.
